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G. W. WHIPPLE.- Railway Switch-Bar.

No. 225,034. Patented Ma-r.'2, I880;

- 1 043 I, H. III! I .....mllm F i UNITE ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. WHIPPLE, ,OF LUDLOW, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HISRIGHT TO MATTHEW H. BENTLEY, OF SAME PLACE. I

RAI LWAY-SWITCH BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,034, dated March 2,1880.

Application filed J annary 9, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WHIPPLE, ofLudlow, Kenton county, Kentucky, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Railway-Switch Bars, of which the followin is aspecification. V

My invention relates to an improved form of those bars or rods whichconnect the two rails that constitute a railway-switch, and of to whichthe bar nearest to the outer ends of the switch connects to theswitch-stand.

My improvements are designed to enable theheads of the switch-bars to beapplied to any desired parts of the switch-rails without the necessityof being first slipped over the extreme ends of the same, and to besecurely and accurately clamped in such positions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aside elevation of aswitch-bar embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same,together with portions of the stationary tracks and with the supportinghead-block. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two clampheads withconnecting-rod and keys, one head and key being detached. Fig. atrepresents the clamp-head nearest the switch-stand. Fig. 5 is aside Viewof a modification of my invention.

A A may represent the two rails composing the switch. B and C mayrespectively represent portions ofthe main and side tracks. 1) mayrepresent the customary bed-plate or head-block to support the chairs Eof the stationary track-rails. F represents the heads or clamps of theswitch-bar G. Similar heads are provided for the switch-rods H, which,at distances of about four feet, connect the two rails of the switch.

- In the preferred form of my device the rod H, which connects theclamp-heads F, and which, in conjunction with said heads and with thekeys or wedges-I, serves to bring and maintain the switch-rails to theproper equidistance, is the same both at the extreme end of the switch,connected with the switchbar, and for the intermediate places. This rodconsists of a stout wrought-iron bar, H, 'of rectangular transversesection. Said bar ootwo hooks, F F. Each extremity of the bar H isupbent to form a lip, h, which snugly fits the top of the rail-base andthe inner wall of rail leg or web. Each bar H has near each end of it ahorizontal slot, h, for a wedge or key, I, whose thin end, being dividedinto two portions, M, enables it to be doubly clinched .after insertion,as shown in Fig. 3.

For attachmentof the' switch-bar the clamphead nearest the switch-standmay have its middle portion cut and turned back, as at F in Fig. 4, andwelded to the switch-bar G, as shown at X, Figs. 1 and 2.

The above-described illustration of n1y.invention maybe varied innon-essential particulars. For example, the clamp-heads of each or anyparticular bar may be connected by a permanently-welded bar, as at K,Fig. 5, and two slotted bars, L M, be employed to secure the respectiverails, of which one bar, M, may constitute the switch-bar.

Instead of the middle portion of the clamphead being cut and turnedback, as at F, Fig. 4, the clamp-head may be left solid and the rod G bewelded on the same for the purpose of insuring greater strength. The rodH may terminate in a check, H, to afford better lateral support to therail and prevent crushing and splitting under heavy loads.

The fastening-wedge may have its point split horizontally, as shown atI, and its severed portions becaused to curve outward, so as to securelylock the wedge in place; or the wedge'point may be perforated andreceive a split ring, as at I",or be plain, as at I.

A head, 1', may be formed on the wedge for convenience of driving, andalso to facilitate extraction.

While preferring wrought-iron, especially for permanent ways, yet theheads or clamps 0 F may be cast-iron, if preferred.

Among the advantagesof my improvement are convenience of taking off andputting on without necessity of raising the sliding rails; avoidance ofany lost or slack motion liable to 5 occur from inequalities in size ofrails; accurate spacing of the rails, leaving no chance or liability ofa lip, (projecting end,) which is a frequent source of accident totrains passing to or from the switch placing the draft of the 00switch-bar at about mid-height of the rail, so as to make the work ofshifting the switch easier, and also more precise, than when the draftis some distance below the rail 5 avoidance of the accidentaldisplacement or shifting of the clamp-heads along the length of therail, and thus securing a given throw at every movement of theswitch-crank.

The lips of the elampheads and the ends of the bar H, especially whenthe latter is furnished with the cheek H,operate, when keyed fast, toafford lateral support to the rail and to prevent splitting and mashingof the latter under heavy loads. The keys or wedges afford an easy meansto take up lost motion. There is an entire avoidance of the noise andchafing incident to loose joints.

The construction of the clamp-heads will be seen to be such as toreadily allow of their application to the switch-rails at any part oftheirlength without necessity of slipping them on endwise, ascustomarily done. The slotted coupling-rod being accuratelfswaged servesthe purpose of a gage'to insure absolute equidistance of the twoswitch-rails at every part of their length.

I claim as new and of my invention-- I. In combination with a pair ofswitchrails, the described clamp -heads F, slotted coupling-bar H, andkeys I, for the purposes designated.

2. In combination with the clamp-head F, receiving one of the rails,slotted couplingbar H, and keys I, the clamp-head FfF, receiving theother rail and having a portion, F, out and turned back to form a partof the switch bar or rod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

, GEORGE W. WHIPPLE.

Attest WALTER KNIGHT, J. L. LOGAN.

